In situ generation of hydroxyl radical by cobalt oxide supported porous carbon enhance removal of refractory organics in tannery dyeing wastewater

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2015-06, Vol.448, p.163-174
• Main Authors: Karthikeyan, S., Boopathy, R., Sekaran, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Heterogeneous Fenton like system; Hydroxyl radical; Nanoporous activated carbon; Organic dyes; Tannery dyeing wastewater
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2015.01.066

[Display omitted] In this study, cobalt oxide doped nanoporous activated carbon (Co-NPAC) was synthesized and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the Fenton oxidation of organic dye chemicals used in tannery process. The nanoporous activated carbon (NPAC) was prepared from rice husk by precarbonization followed by chemical activation at elevated temperature (600°C). The cobalt oxide was impregnated onto NPAC and characterized for UV–visible, Fluorescence spectroscopy, FT-IR, HR-TEM, XRD, BET surface area and XPS analyses. The hydroxyl radical generation potential of Co-NPAC from hydrogen peroxide decomposition was identified (λexi, 320nm; λemi, 450nm) by Excitation Emission Spectra (EES) analysis. The conditions for the degradation of tannery dyeing wastewater such as, Co-NPAC dose, concentration of H2O2, and temperature were optimized in heterogeneous Fenton oxidation process and the maximum percentage of COD removal was found to be 77%. The treatment of dyes in wastewater was confirmed through UV–Visible spectra, EES and FT-IR spectra analyses.